Tips for keeping hungry deer from snacking on your hostas
The Springfield News-Leader in Springfield, Missouri, partners with the Master Gardeners of Green County each week to bring readers a question-and-answer column with some of the expert horticulturists in the region.
Colleges and universities in the U.S. typically offer Master Gardener programs, which provide "intensive horticultural training," according to the American Horticultural Society. The certified Master Gardeners then volunteer as lecturers, researchers and gardeners in their communities. For more information about Master Gardener programs in your community, the American Horticultural Society created this page with local resources.
Here's a sample of some of the recent questions amateur gardeners had for the masters of the craft.
How can I keep the deer away from my hostas?
That's a tricky problem, as deer are very persistent, will eat almost anything if hungry enough, and are quite good at undoing our plans to stop them! Some things work for a while, until they don't, and some solutions can be rather expensive.
Scent-based repellents such as rotten eggs, garlic or predator urine can work but must be reapplied after every rain. Motion-activated sprinklers do seem to work, at least for a while, until the deer figure out that the water isn't harming them. Some plants which deer find unappetizing, situated around the hostas, may help a bit, but as stated above, deer will eat almost anything if hungry enough. One of the best deterrents is fencing, but this must be six to eight feet tall (eight is best), which can be a very expensive undertaking. Fencing that is angled or double layered seems to be most effective. Netting, such as bird netting secured with staples at the edges, may also help keep the deer out.
What would be good companion plants for my eggplant? I especially want to help repel harmful insects. What should not be planted with eggplant?
There are several options that provide varying benefits to eggplant, primarily marigolds, beans, basil, spinach, nasturtiums, and onions. Spinach will help improve the soil and at the same time, the eggplant will provide some shade for the spinach in hotter weather. Marigolds not only repel nematodes in the soil and other pests on the plant itself, but also attract beneficials which will help control flea beetles and other harmful insects. Basil is useful in repelling aphids and spider mites, while also attracting beneficials. Eggplants grown among bush beans will benefit from improved soil due to the nitrogen-fixing provided by the beans and the bean plants will also repel Colorado potato beetles. Nasturtiums also attract pollinators and deter aphids. Onions repel many insect pests and also improve the soil by promoting healthy soil microbes.
What shouldn't be planted near eggplant? Heavy feeders such as corn, melons, and squash should be avoided, since the competition for nutrients would be detrimental to each other. In addition, also avoid any member of the nightshade family, which includes eggplant, such as tomatoes and peppers, since they all share the same diseases and attract the same insect pests. Fennel should also be avoided, since it really doesn't like any other plants and will inhibit the growth of some such as tomatoes.
What are drought-tolerant perennials that would thrive in hot, dry summers?
Many native plants are particularly well-adapted to the hot and dry summers so common in Missouri, especially plants that are suited to prairie conditions. Many cultivars of native plants are also well adapted to dry conditions. Some plants that are attractive and will tolerate spells of dry weather include black-eyed Susan, purple coneflower, butterfly weed (a milkweed), rose verbena, false indigo, yarrow, and coreopsis. Several ornamental grasses, such as prairie dropseed, and others work well in dry soil.
Readers can pose questions or get more information by calling 417-874-2963 and talking to one of the trained volunteers staffing the Master Gardener Hotline at the University of Missouri Extension Center in Greene County located inside the Botanical Center, 2400 S. Scenic Ave., Springfield, MO 65807.